This time in Hairsplitting, we divide some more fine lines, and try to catch you out with attractive but actually dud interpretations. Look up the context of each of the verses cited,
and see if your interpretation skills pass the test. 1) What does the following verse mean? Let the weak say "I am strong"? (Joel 2:10)
a) Weaklings should build up their muscles and learn to fight b) God's strength is made perfect in human weakness
c) Weak people should recognise that in God's sight they are strong d) Weak people can obtain strength and power by claiming it
Answer: Sorry, but as nice and spiritual as the last three ones sound, the answer was
actually (a). Just because it sounds so unbiblical doesn't mean that when we look up the context, that isn't what it actually means. The context is that God is actually calling the nations together to the last battle at
Armageddon. So, next time you sing "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart", remember what this verse is really saying! 2. The words "
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14) mean
a) We should not marry non-Christians b) We should not form business partnerships with non-Christians c) We should not join sporting teams with non-Christians
d) We should not make a bond with a non-Christian that will pollute our holiness
Answer:
Alright, this one was very easy, but we thought it was appropriate to the subject of legalism. Yes, the answer was (d) of course. The point of it is not to tie your interpretation of a verse down to something extremely specific when the verse itself is actually very general. Thus, although an application of the verse may be not to marry a non-Christian, the words do not mean that in themselves, and there are many different applications that could be made of it. We won't go into the business now of how much we are to be living in the world, and yet being separate from it.
3. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13) The words
"Mercy triumphs over judgment" should be interpreted to mean:
a) God's mercy to us triumphs over His judgement of us. b) Our mercy to others causes us to triumph over God's judgement.
c) Our mercy to others should always come before our judgement of others. d) An attitude of mercy gives us more triumph than an attitude of judgement does.
Answer:
This one really was a bit tricky, but we suggest that (b) is the best answer. The question here is whose mercy is it being talked about- ours or God's, and whose judgement is being talked about- ours or God's? It seems to be our mercy to our neighbours that triumphs here- God's mercy isn't said to triumph over his mercy ["(God's) judgement is without (God's) mercy "]. However, the judgement mentioned is clearly God's judgement- hence we got (b). Hope you followed this!
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